Norway puts France, Germany, UK and US in the frame for future frigate partnership

BELFAST — Norway has officially shortlisted four countries it will consider as options to support a future frigate “strategic” partnership.

France, Germany, the UK and the US are set to receive invitations to begin discussions on the matter, said the Norwegian Ministry of Defence in a Wednesday statement. Although Norway’s statement does not say what designs are up for discussion, it is expected that the options will cover France’s Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI), Germany’s F126, the UK Type 26/City-Class and/or Type 31, and the US Constellation-class.

“The new frigates represent the largest acquisition planned for the Norwegian Armed Forces in the coming years,” Bjørn Arild Gram, Norway’s Minister of Defence, is quoted as saying. “Norway is an important maritime nation in NATO, and through this and other maritime investments we will be strengthening both national and allied security.”

A strategic partner for the effort is due to be picked in 2025. Between five and six new frigates could be ordered to meet a requirement set out in Norway’s long term defense plan. The future ships will also be capable of embarking anti-submarine helicopters.

Additionally, the proposed partnership will cover “joint acquisition, operation, maintenance, continuous development and upgrades of the new frigates throughout their service life,” per the MoD statement.

Oslo is focused on joining an active production frigate program in order to minimize the need for Fridtjof Nansen-class upgrades.

“Solid and predictable cooperation on both security and defence policy will be at the heart of the strategic partnership that we envision, which will include everything from force generation to operations and joint development of new capabilities,” said Arild Gram. “It is therefore essential that we and our partners have the same long-term interests.”

The frigate partnership push comes on the heels of Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway’s Chief of Defense, telling Breaking Defense in April that, “we need to” work in “close cooperation with one ally. We need the same frigate as another ally. We cannot be the one user of a system, we are too small for that.”

Such an outlook also mirrors Norway’s favored approach to submarine investment, where it has opted for a joint procurement with Germany of Thyssenkrupp-made 212CD class vessels. A first Norwegian sub, of four on order, underwent construction at the shipbuilder’s Kiel yard in September last year.